An Underground Bar

Mandelyn felt warmth in her body a deep warmth, as she closed her eyes for the moment. She saw Kyuu casting her magic holding her in this world as a little bit of every part of Mandelyn left her body being sucked into the pendant. A sigh of happiness escaped her lips. She was barely clinging to her life with her fingernails now. She knew what Kyuu had done for her, and she could stop fighting so hard to stay now. She had other bodies in storage here and if Kyuu ever wanted her truly back, Aubresiah and Kyuu both knew the rituals. With some of her last strength she craned her head up to look at Auron and Arillia. "My proteges and my friend will come for you. They will kill you. Mercilessly. For a moment until Auron reached for his sword Mandelyn saw fear in their eyes made by her, and her words that rang true. Auron stabbed her reliving her of her long lived life in this body, no surprise came that this coward would kill her right away when he found out this. A gasp came from her lips as she felt the life draining from her. Her eyes were now unclouded shining brightly, she was smiling a soft delicate smile. Mandelyn let the rest of her drain into the pendant, her powers, her life, memories, everything that made her, her. Smiling in her last moments she fell into the grace of the pendant, the peace, pain was gone now. In the pendant she looked unscathed, unharmed. She could talk to her friend. She looked happy as she gazed back at Kyuu before she had fainted.

Giving her some strength from the pendant Mandelyn watched the boy in front of Kyuu carrying her friend. She could hear his thoughts and grumbled in her own' That was my job...' shaking her head she leaned against the wall of the pendant. 'He seems nice enough I suppose....'

Derek led the way up the grand staircase and up a hidden one in the hall on the second floor to the Crowned Family's royal floor. This hidden third floor kept everyone from entering that wasn't of blood tied decent, or was blood tied through the majesty herself. "Her bed is through these doors." Derek frowned, jealousy raging in his eyes, as he bowed and opened the doors to reveal the large, four post, king sized bed with the dark purple silk sheets and the black comforter, along with the rest of her glamorous room. Derek left the room, but not before making sure that the room was still in it's lockdown mode, that kept beings like her ex's out.

Kyuu was dreaming in her unconsciousness. She was with Mandy, back in the good days, drinking and well. They were flying together, and it was as if nothing bad had ever happened to either of them. It was back before the time of heartbreak, death, and tragedy.

Manit lay her down gently on the bed and attempted to make her comfortable. He sat down on the floor next to the bed, relaxing, but ready to move yet in case of her needing him. He unsheathed his swords and laid them down to make it more comfortable. "Nice place.."he grined at this, trying to keep his mood up, his way of keeping the moral of those around him up.

Mandelyn had smiled at her soaring beautifuly, arcing her wings to carve through the beautiful air around them. The stars glimmered in the night, Mandelyn's eyes brighter than them all. "Kyuu, oh Kyuu...." She whispered in the dream. "Aren't you happy? Is this not wonderful? " Her smile was bright her swords barely moved in her flying. She held her friends hand twirling them around. She giggled, a sound most wonderful to Kyuu's ears, treasured and few and far between. Only in private moments with one another did she let go, otherwise she was protecting her dear friend.

In the room, there was black carpet, and on the dark wooden night stand next to where Kyuu lay, there was a warn leather bound book that had written "The History of the Satsui" on it. Kyuu read and re-read the clan's history all the time, and kept it close. It told the story of how she came into power. How she killed the crowned Queen before her, that was her first husband's sister. How many other people died that same night. How only she and Ankoku were the ones that lived, other then the guards that pledged their loyalty to her for eternity. She remembered it all like it was a bad dream she had every night. Pale moonlight shown in through the sliding glass door that led to her balcony. Her closet door blocked the view of countless outfits that ha been made to fit her numerous forms. And yet, Kyuu still lay motionless like she were dead.

In the dream realm, Kyuu smiled at Mandelyn. "Of course I am, and of course it is. This place is so much better than the waking world... Where I feel so alone most of the time now... Where's I've lost my children, many friends, and the God that I worshiped for too long without happiness... To just stay here forever would be lovely.." Kyuu sighed happily. Here, she didn't need blood to survive and could get drunk like a normal person, and think of death. But over all, for her, it never came. Even after so long. "Enough sadness. Race you to the old Queen's tombstone!" Before Mandy could even answer, Kyuu was flying off toward a cemetery.

Manit stood up slowly, not wanting to wake Kyuu. He looked down on her and lightly pressed his finger to her neck, to make sure she was alive. He looked around the room slowly, then down at himself. He felt out of place. Instead of his usual clothes he was wearing a pair of blue jeans, tears in the thigh and knee from combat, a black beater, fingerless gloves, and the bandoleers for his sword sheaths. He felt very under dressed and out of place in such a high class room.

"It is much better here. I'm not dead. " She laughed lighly. "I can always come back you know...if they don't destroy my other spare bodies... " Mandelyn sighed happily "No sorrow, no pain. Just happiness. I had missed you so my dear friend. I will never leave you. You know this. I have lost my son. Lily is all whom is left now dear. you never have to fret about loosing me." Mandelyn smiled and giggled at her happiness and her bounciness. She flew after her quickly, flying after her with speed and grace. Poking Kyuus side oncce she had caught up Mandelyn laughed like a thrilled child

"You're lucky you get to stay in this realm, Mandy." Kyuu smiled at her, and then tickled her stomach for the revenge of being poked in the side. "But I've still got things I need to do over there... I gotta wake up soon... But you know I'll be back every time I sleep. You keep the nightmares away..." Kyuu pulled her friend in for a long hug. She knew Mandy would understand what her nightmares were, of the deaths she caused in her life before she became loyal to the Goddesses and earned her wings. "You make the pain go away..."

Kyuu's fingers lightly began to curl some, as she began to come to just a bit. She wasn't really conscious enough to be pulled out of it just yet, if the slight movement had even been noticed, but it was obvious she was living now. She began to more or less breathe again, now just being asleep, rather than the passed out state from moments before. She turned to her side, into the bed instead of to the nightstand, and lightly patted the mattress. Be it an invitation in the waking world or the dream world, it wasn't clear, but it was obviously one.

"I already miss my duties though. Who shall protect you without me there? Who shall kill Council? Who shall see my grandson grow? I can eventually come back. My spirit just needs rest for now. Then a body will accept it once more." Sh smiled sadly nodding "i get to protect you in the dreaming world. I can help pick a new body guard if you wish...No one will ever be good enough to love you or protect you in my eyes, you know that, but I'll try to be accepting of any who come your way dearest friend. " Hugging Kyuu back long and tightly she smiled "I will keep it away as long as I am here Kyuu." She smiled nudging her "Go be awake, I am sorry for draining you."

"I'll take your charges, and through me, you'll see everything you want to. That's why your pendant rest around my neck." Kyuu lightly pulled her best friend's ear. "Bull shit you drained me. I drained myself. And I can take care of myself, ya know." With a wink, Kyuu created a portal that would take her home. But technically, it would just send her out of this dream and force her awake, because she was already home.

Mandelyn smiled at her and nodded. "Of course I didn't, and of course you can." Mandelyn giggled "Ill see you tonight. " (sorry short, tired and doing chores)

Kyuu awoke in her bed, curled up against the silk sheets. She was wondering why and how she got here, but when she sat up a little, she saw Manit standing in her room. She looked at him with her head tilted to the side, trying to figure out just what he was doing, looking around her room and then down at himself. "What are you doing?" Kyuu asked softly, a smile on her lips as she leaned back against the headboard of her bed.

Manit looked at her and smiled. "I feel under dressed. You place is so amazing." He laughed and smiled at her. "How was your nap? It seemed serious." He sat down on the bed where she had patted earlier. He looked into her eyes and smiled. He didn't know why, but he felt like he did not need to hide who he was around her, it was weird.

"Thanks..." Kyuu seemed to brush off the compliment. Not many people got the pleasure of seeing her personal bedroom. Most people got to see a guest room that she later left. "I'd rather you don't change... But I'd prefer to myself." Kyuu got up from the bed, going over to her dresser and grabbing something out of the second drawer, then walking behind the oriental screen she kept in her room. She pulled off her clothes and put the other thing on, the moonlight casting a shadow so that everything she did was seen. When she came out again, she was wearing a pink nightgown, also silk like the sheets. She had nothing else on. "I quite prefer people dressed down around me.. And I'm a bit jealous of you being able to. I was raised in dresses, so that's all I get..." Kyuu leaned back on her pillows and kicked at the dark purple robe she had hanging from one of the posts. Her pale legs were bare.

Manit couldn't help but stare. "Sorry for staring..But yeah, I've lived in street clothes, except for when I was with the monks. I wore their robes."He smiled at her and adjusted his weight to get more comfortable. Her bed was soft, and very relaxing, but he kept sitting straight up. "If you only have dresses then why don't you go get yourself some regular clothes?"

"This is a monarchy, and I'd rather not change the traditions of my clan so drastically." Kyuu shrugged lightly, the strap on her nightgown slipping off her shoulder. "You apologize too much. If I didn't want you here, I would kick you out. If I didn't want you to look, I wouldn't be in my bed, barely dressed." Kyuu looked at him and smiled, before she sank into her bed with a soft sigh. She just really did not feel like moving.

"Okay, I'll work on that. Do you mind if I lay down?" He removed the Bandoleer and set it next to his swords. He turned around and faced her, he stood still but was looking her up and down and smiled. He was just going with the flow, why fight it? It was pretty easy to go with it in this situation. He loosened, then removed both of his hidden blades, revealing a black tattoo on each of his wrists. On his right, The Yin Yang logo, the left, A dagger.

"Do as you wish." Kyuu shrugged her shoulders in a graceful, yet lazy roll. She was a pretty easy going person, even if only one other person had been in this bed with her. Not even Derek, her favorite bloodslave, got to join her in her bed. She caught sight of his tattoos and smiled a little. She gestured to them with her eyes. "Balance of the warrior?" Her eyes were curious, as was her cat-like nature that tended to surface every now and again.

He lay down next to her and relaxed. "The reasons for combat are always mixed. You have the chivalrous reasons, and then there are more dreadful ways. You may go into it to save someone, or just to exact your revenge." He looked at her and smiled. "Learning and understanding this was part of training with the monks. I had it tattooed the day they recognized me as one of them."

"I bare my battle scars just like everyone else. I understand the battles well." Kyuu sighed softly as she stared up at her ceiling. ON her neck, she bore bite marks from many attacks, as well as willing feedings. On her wrists, much of the same. On her arms, she had the burn marks her mortal step-mother had given her. That wasn't her any more. It was another life. She had people to fight for her now. She had the blessings of the Goddesses. She had the scars fro ex-Lovers, and she had the scars from her own doing. "It was so long ago..." Kyuu said softly, mostly to herself.

"Yeah."He trailed off. Looking down at his arms, the scars going in every direction, all across them. All of them were caused by a man, or woman, who had been killed by his blades, countless others had no chance to defend themselves. "it is a cruel, dark world.."He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He did not like remembering the past. It led to pain.

"I killed my whole family, other than my daughter, to gain my rightful place as leader. I should have left my young nieces alive, but had they learned they were the next of the bloodline, they would have had the power. They were three when they looked up at me from their beds, and asked where mommy was. She was already dead. As was my husband, and hers." Kyuu rolled over onto her side, staring at the wall. She rarely spoke the truth about such things. "I could bring Maiso back to life if I wanted to, but that would require too big of a price. I prefer his memory."

He looked over at her slowly. "I'm sorry Kyuu."He felt slightly uncomfortable, but it wasn't enough to make him leave. He was there for her, to keep her safe. He put his hand on her shoulder softly. "I truly am." He meant it and he hoped she could tell.

Kyuu suddenly rolled on top of him and pinned him to the bed under her. "It's okay. It's the past." she said in a soft voice. She leaned down and kissed him deeply, one of those slow and deep kisses that turn harder as the time passes. For a second she pulled away some, eager to see if he accepted it and kept talking, or if he pulled her back down to kiss him like that again.

Manit was shocked at first, but the fully embraced the kiss. When she pulled back he let her breath for a second then pulled her back down, re initiating the kiss. He held it long and deep, slightly rubbing his tongue on her lips. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body to his.